Information Completeness

Trust is a tool and betrayal a tactic!

In Diplomacy, players receive information that may be true or false, shaped by fluid negotiations and alliances. This introduces a dynamic of deceit, trust, and betrayal, as players engage in layered conversations, both explicit and implicit, creating a complex narrative of manipulation and persuasion. Conflicting Information.

Serenity of witnessing the inevitable

War is governed by the random flipping of cards, with outcomes based solely on chance, removing any strategic player input. This lack of information leads to a passive, fate-driven experience, where players witness the game's progress without influence, creating a meditative narrative. No Information.

A most coveted asset

Poker centers on the concealed possibilities within each player's hand, with bluffing and probability at its core. The hidden cards foster narrative tension and dramatic irony, as players craft their strategies under uncertainty, turning each decision into a narrative of bravado and tactics. Incomplete Information.

::::::: A poker game, a Tex Holdem where there are two flops, side-by-side, and players not only hide what their cards are, but after the flops, the players lock in which flop their going to with a canceled card.

In Chess, the total visibility of pieces and their positions on the board provides a complete knowledge base. This transparency fosters a strategic depth, as players engage in a mental duel of anticipation and reaction, enhancing the game's aesthetic and tension through clear and predictable game states. Complete Information.

Information incompleteness can occur in an ontologically different space, can be a meta game. 40k is an information incomplete game unless you buy every book, while Netrunner is an information complete meta game, everyone has access to all the cards and rules, but leans heavy on information incompleteness in the game, a core source of tension.

Select a game element, and house rule a way to hide that element. Information completeness as a site for experiment and play.